A clear request gets a better first answer, and ZeroTwo has built-in places to keep context so you do not have to retype it. These habits work in any chat.
Say what you need
- State the goal and the reader. "A short summary for a busy manager" gives ZeroTwo more to work with than "summarize this".
- Name the format. Ask for a table, a checklist, an email, or code in a specific language.
- Set limits. Give a length, a tone, and anything to include or leave out.
- Break up big jobs. Ask for an outline first, then build each part on the reply before it.
| Vague | Specific |
|---|---|
| Write about our launch. | Write a 150-word announcement of our June launch for existing customers. Friendly tone, one call to action at the end. |
| Fix this code. | This Python function raises a KeyError when the list is empty. Explain why and show a corrected version. |
Give ZeroTwo the material
- Click the + button in the message box and choose Files and folders to attach what ZeroTwo should work from.
- Type @ in the message box to search for something you already have and reference it in your message, such as a file from your Library, a page, or a file in Google Drive if you have connected it.
- In Work and Code mode, type / to see commands and skills.
- For short passages, paste the text into your message and say what to do with it.
Save context you reuse
- Project instructions. If a set of chats shares background, put it in a project's Instructions once. See How do projects work in ZeroTwo?.
- Custom instructions. In Settings > Personalization > Companion, make sure Custom instructions is on (it is on by default), write the background and preferences you want in every conversation, and click Save.
- Base style and tone. On the same tab, choose None, Default, Professional, Friendly, Candid, Quirky, Efficient, Nerdy or Cynical. This changes how ZeroTwo sounds, not what it can do.
- Memory. Settings > Personalization > Memory controls what ZeroTwo remembers about you. See the Memory articles.
Refine instead of starting over
Under a reply, open the Retry menu. It has a box labelled Ask to change response where you can type what to fix, and one-click choices:
- Try again for a fresh attempt.
- Add details for a fuller answer.
- More concise for a shorter one.
- Search the web to redo the answer with current sources.
- Switch model to rerun the reply on a different model.
You can also point at one of your own messages and click Edit to reword it. Edit is not offered on messages that carry file attachments. When a reply has more than one version, arrows with a page count let you move between them.
Pick the right tool and model
- Choose Web Search from the + menu when the answer depends on current information.
- For longer research tasks, Deep Research is a plugin: type
/deep-researchin your message. See How does Deep Research work in ZeroTwo? - Models differ in how many credits a message costs. In the web and desktop apps, open Help and what's new, choose Help, then Model Tiers to compare them.